Still little more than babes, the twin boys were taught all the customs and rules of the Lloth-worshipping society of Rilauven. The Yathrin Grextel was, more or less, the only other drow the twins really knew in their first 16 years. True, there were other visitors, and their mother came once in awhile to check on their progress, but it was Grextel who they saw day in and day out.  She was their wean-mother.

Tullarix smiled as he lay there on the massage table and dreamily relived the first time he discovered his inherent drow abilities. He was so happy, as any small child would be, when he conjured up his very first faerie fire. He reacted the same way when he learned to levitate and create globes of darkness. He and Daevion played as much as they could whenever their lessons were done for the day.

Usually he played the part of House Wizard while Daevion played the part of House Assassin. The memories flashed by, both good bad. Tullarix would wince and grimace, as he lay on the table being rubbed and stroked by the two slaves, whenever a memory of him and his brother were whipped for any infraction no matter how small.

Tullarix and Daevion both began to dread the snake-headed whips which hung on the belts of their mother and the other yathrinen. They both tried to learn quickly and thoroughly the rules and customs of their society. They learned that they were always a step lower than any drow female. And when they were not being 'motivated', or playing, they both began to discover what skills they were best at. Tullarix had an early interest in teachings of the magical arts while Daevion loved the more physical skills.

Soon their time of growing up ended and they were both called back to return to the Prime Material Plane where the city and House compound was located. To both their surprise, it seemed that only 16 days had passed since they left the compound 16 years ago (in their minds) for the Fire Plane. Not bothering to be given an explanation, they were both sent to Tier-Breche and given tasks right away. Tullarix went to Sorcere to further his arcane skills, and Daevion headed to the Melee Magthere for warrior training. Their times together were fleeting at best, but Tullarix soon found another way to fill the void.

He knew by heart that he would never rise above his station as a drow male and that he would always be a step lower to the females, but that didn't mean he couldn't try to acquaint himself with the lovely females of his kind...

Smirking at that memory, his eyes closed to remember some of those acquaintances. The two human females continued to rub and stroke his ebon-hued form with their delicate touch of silky-smooth hands and strong fingers...

---

Reminisce
by Daevion Elythanar

He moved through the city with grace, his stride faster than any average surface dweller, yet he remained as silent as the breeze that surrounded him. He looked at the moon and realized he had to hurry for he could not be late to a meeting with his mother. The punishment would be severe and painful otherwise. He flinched at the thought of the new first daughter, Zelghinna, thrashing him endlessly with that horrid snake whip of hers.

The six heads would come alive as an extension of her will and cause great pain, numbing and rendering any limb useless. He glanced again at his surroundings and wondered if he belonged in this evil world where at some points a huge ball of fire in the sky would scorch his skin and blind his eyes. He ventured to the surface quite often, yet he still did not feel comfortable any time he made the trip.

He also wondered why his kin would leave their homeland so often to come to this vile place. He shrugged as he continued down the alleyway to the designated meeting spot. After all, he thought, he was still young and hopefully these many questions which surrounded his existence would be answered in time.

He slowed as he began to near his destination, then looked behind him to make sure he was not being followed. Then he slipped through the secret door which would take him to the spot where he would meet his mother, her daughters, and his twin brother. Oh how he despised that one. He often wondered how he would look as the Ust Dalharuk^*1 but never had he thought of crossing his mother to complete the assassination. If she found out it was he she would... he quickly released the thought and lightly tapped on the door to the meeting room.

"Enter," came the cold, yet beautiful voice of his mother. He stepped through and immediately knelt before the females. "Vendui' Ilhar" he said without raising his gaze from the stone floor. Then he looked to the powerful Yathrin by her side "Vendui' Malla Yathrin" he said, an evil grin briefly crossing his lips. He knew she did not care for him, or any male for that matter, but he loved to tease her anyway, sometimes bringing painful responses. He was very young by drow standards and still had not learned the power of females and the insignificance of himself, or most other males. But every time he slipped the help of her whip had brought another lesson that he would not soon forget.

"You may rise dalharuk," came the husky voice of his mother. He rose and took his spot behind her almost before she had finished the command. He had learned not to delay orders coming from the Ilharess or any other ranking female. "One day," he thought innocently, "That will be me summoning others to my side". A slight grin crossed his lips as the thought passed through his mind.

He knew he had much to learn before that day would come, but as any other with ambitions, he was not afraid to do whatever he needed, to get what he wanted. He would soon learn that this was a good thing, but very much a bad thing as well. He had much to learn, hopefully he would survive and live through it all...

Danarth left the Matron's room with his usual trepidations and worries about ensuring everything was just so. Some days being so driven by desire to see one's house vaulted to where its potential should place it could be draining on the energies of even the most robust and diligent.

He stepped back into his own meager offices and began the transcription of the invitations the malla Ilharess had given him to be delivered to the list he had received. As he worked he wondered for the briefest of moments what the Ilharess thought to gain for the house through the auction she was planning. Smiling, he thought of how well her last acquisition of slaves had gone. He remembered how much the favor of Lloth seemed to flow in the house after the completion of the delivery of the paladin to the Spider Queen, and knew that no matter what she hoped to gain, it would surely come to pass and gain the house even more honor and favor.

Shaking his head to clear the thoughts he flexed his fingers and took up his adamantite tipped quill pen and set to the tasks of copying the scrolls himself. He would entrust this task to none of his underling clerks. He paused for a moment from the copying to make himself a note to send some copies of some of the more interesting books he had received from Deemonia to Shadosin for his further study and possible use.

He actually cared about what happened to the house wizard and wished to help him if he could since he seemed to be so close to the Ilharess all the time and obviously held the safety and honor of the house so highly.

*1.  First Son or Elder Boy